by Kay, Amanda
Copyright ©
Amanda Kay, Author
Copyright
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events or persons, living or dead are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names or featured names are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or in part, mechanically or electronically, constitutes a copyright violation.
Published in the United States of American in November 2014; Copyright 2014 by Amanda Kay.
The right of the Authors Name to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by them in accordance with The Copyright, Designs and Patent Act of 1988.
Published by Kingsnake Publishing
Cover art by Cover Me, Darling
Interior formatting and design by Amanda Kay/Brenda Wright
Copyright 2014 © Kingsnake Publishing & Amanda Kay
Language: English
This book is intended for a mature audience of eighteen and older
ISBN:13: 978-1-942394-13-6
Dedication
To my dad. My biggest fan.
Every time I turn around my name is on your lips.
I love you daddy.
Acknowledgements
To my parents and my family you know how much I love you and how much your support has meant to me. To my husband, thank you for not only loving me, our daughter and son, but loving this country enough to serve it. You are my hero.
The blogging community, without you, indie authors, like myself would never see the light of day. I am grateful for all you do.
To fabulous writers/authors I have gotten to chat with and get to know over the last few months. I am grateful for everything.
To my Beta Readers, thank you for taking the time to read this book not once, but twice. I am beyond excited to release it to the world.
To my PA, Jen. I love you, thank you so much for all the hard work you have done. Without you I don’t think I could do this.
To my street team. My Fairies are the best and I appreciate all you do in getting my name out there.
To an amazing editor, Brenda, who took a chance on a new genre for me. I am so happy to have found you. Here’s to a busy schedule.
And finally to my readers, I would not have made it without you. I am so thankful for you.
Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Mistakes
Bethany
It wasn’t really her mistake. At sixteen years old, her parents, along with Raiden’s parents, decided that they would make it so that if Raiden didn’t find his soul-mate. Which allowed him to get engaged by whatever time frame was presented to him, and there we a lot of circumstances that would apply that he would marry her. Raiden was a great guy and Bethany cared deeply for him, but she never loved him, not like that anyways.
“Bethany, date a little. You never get out.” Raiden sat at his usual table as Bethany poured his drink.
“I can’t date, Raiden. You go through women like there is no tomorrow. What happens if I fall in love and then poof you need to get engaged and have no one lined up?” she hissed. For the last several years they had been having the same conversation.
“I wouldn’t be a bad husband,” he teased. Bethany slapped him. “Ouch.”
“You’re an ass, but no, you wouldn’t make a bad husband. But if I’m your wife, I don’t want to be in love with someone else. I can’t do it, Raiden.”
“Okay Bethany, I get it. I promise, Bethany, I won’t let it come to that. If you find someone, I’ll find a way to make sure you’re free,” he sighed.
“Raiden, you deserve happiness,” Bethany said.
“We both do, Beth.” He smiled at her.
Bethany turned away. She had to get back to work. Raiden was right, of course, they both did deserve happiness. She just wasn’t sure that would be a reality. Marrying Raiden wouldn’t be a bad life, just not exactly what she wanted. She wanted be loved with so much passion that she wouldn’t be able to see straight. That was something her and Raiden would never have with each other. However, until he settled down, no one was getting in.
Jordan
He had been engaged not even a full week, yet tonight he wasn’t sharing the bed with her. He was sharing a bed with her mother. How did he allow this to happen?
He was alone. Tai was working, relatively speaking, he was happy, but his proposal was somewhat forced. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to marry Tai, but he was assured that they were meant to be. So he proposed. A knock at the door interrupted his trip to the buried depths of his heart as he searched for answers.
“Meredith?” What was Tai’s mom doing there? She had been visiting him a lot. They’ve been having a ton of conversations, ones that led him to use the ring she gave him and propose to her daughter, but now he was confused.
“Up for some company?” She winked and slowly untied her long trench coat revealing that she was wearing nothing underneath.
Jordan blinked back his surprise as she entered his apartment. He was being pushed towards his bedroom. He tried to protest, but had no words. “I want you, Jordan, for one night. Before you commit to my daughter.” Jordan gulped. Was she being for real? But he didn’t stop her and willingly, he fell into bed with his fiancée’s mother.
“Fuck!” he hissed.
“What, Jordan? Tell me, Hun, what’s wrong?” She smiled sweetly. Jordan scrubbed his hands over his face.
“What are we doing, Meredith? You wanted me to propose to Tai. I did, and now this?” He was confused. How had he allowed for this? Sex with Tai’s mother, he was a moron, a fucking moron.
“It’s okay, Jordan. Tai won’t know. I know you love her, but she’ll be busy with wedding stuff. I can keep you warm till your wedding.” He was shocked, but he didn’t protest. He kissed her, and for the second time that night, had sex with Meredith Coretti, his fiancée’s mother.
Bethany
She was back at Raiden and Tai’s table taking their order and hoping she didn’t insert her foot in her mouth too bad. She hadn’t realized Raiden hadn’t told Tai she was the one he had been arranged with. In hindsight, it didn’t matter she could look at Raiden and know he was sunk.
The door chimed and in walked a very handsome guy, one she knew she’d never seen before. “Who is he?” she asked nodding towards the door.
Before she got an answer she thought she heard Raiden growl. She was too transfixed on the handsome stranger t
o pay much mind to Raiden though.
“My ex-fiancé, Jordan,” Tai stated plainly.
“Oh, he’s cute.” Bethany fanned herself. Raiden growled again. So, clearly he wasn’t a fan of Jordan or maybe it was the reason Jordan was here that had Raiden on edge. Tai’s laughter helped ease Bethany. She was really distracted by him. Completely locked in a stare with him. She finally peeled herself from his gaze. “Let me go put your order in.” She felt her cheeks flush as she quickly walked away.
Jordan
He wasn’t surprised to see Tai and Raiden at the only diner he had found so far. What did shock him was Raiden waving him over to their booth. The same booth that beautiful waitress had just been.
“Hey, you two,” he said as he stopped in front of their table.
“Have a seat, Jordan. Raiden needs to talk with you about something.” Tai spoke from her new seat next to Raiden. She had moved to that side of the booth when Raiden waved him over.
“I swear, dude, I needed to get away. That’s why I’m staying...I’m not going to try to take her from you...” He knew he was rambling, but he couldn’t help himself. Raiden looked stunned and confused by Jordan’s ramblings and both men remained silent. Luckily for them, Tai’s voice broke the awkwardness.
“Jordan, shut up and sit down.” He immediately took a seat across from them pleasantly surprised by her assertiveness.
“The person that called Tai’s mom was a man by the name of Kai...” Jordan was half listening to Raiden. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her again. She was heading their way. No food in her hands. “...he will do whatever he can to destroy me, to destroy us. Do you understand?”
He nodded, refocusing on Raiden. “Of course, man, I want Tai happy and you’re the one that does that.”
Her attention was completely focused on him. “Can I get you something to drink or eat or both, maybe?” She sounded nervous, it was cute, and she was gorgeous.
“Just some water for now,” he answered, barely croaking it out. She nodded and left, clearly something was being exchanged between Raiden and Tai, but he had other things to worry about. He cleared his throat. “Is she ummm...is she a...is she like you, Raiden?” He saw Tai’s coy smile. Yea okay, so he liked the waitress, she was beautiful, though.
“Yes,” Raiden answered plainly.
When she returned she had Raiden and Tai’s food and his drink. Her eyes never left him as she served the three of them. “I’m Bethany.” She smiled, Tai had a beautiful smile, but Bethany’s smile melted him.
“I’m Jordan,” he said extending his hand to her. Bethany took it, Jordan didn’t make a move to shake her hand, he just held it as her eyes were holding him. Jordan was never leaving Aishan, not unless Bethany was leaving with him. He was starting to understand what Tai meant when she told him that she wasn’t his one and he wasn’t hers. It was clear to Jordan now, he was meant to be with Bethany. Just as Tai was meant to be with Raiden.
Bethany
Raiden and Tai had left a while ago but Jordan was still there. He had swapped from water to a beer. “Still here, Superman?” She flushed with embarrassment. Why had she done that? He chuckled.
“Yeah, beautiful, was hoping to talk when your shift was over.” He flashed her a smile, and it helped calm her nerves.
“That would be nice, Jordan. I get off in fifteen.” He gave her a quick nod. “The beer is on me. Be back soon.” He gave her another nod and smile and she turned in a sudden hurry to finish her shift.
She was really going to have a date. A date, oh shit, she had never been on a date. Raiden was supposed to be her world, not particularly a world she wanted, but she never knew anything else. She never allowed herself to know anything else. Things had changed though, Tai was wonderful. She saw the look in Raiden’s eyes. He was smitten, Bethany was off the hook, but she didn’t feel free yet.
The fifteen remaining minutes in her shift just crawled, but Jordan stayed planted right in the booth patiently waiting. Finally! She rushed to the back to her locker for her things. “Ready?” She questioned coming up behind him.
“Absolutely.” He smiled jumping up from the table. Hitting his knee against the corner.
“Are you okay?” she chuckled.
“Fine, beautiful.” His smile was breathtaking. What had caused him and Tai to breakup? Did he come back to get her back only to be denied? “Bethany, you ready?” She snapped from her thoughts.
“Yes, I need to get out of this. Can we swing by my place?” He nodded.
“Tell you what, Bethany, I have a rental car for now. How about I follow you and then we figure things out from there?” She liked that idea, but she was hesitant to have him at her apartment.
“That sounds good,” she replied, completely distracted by the circumstances of this situation. She had never been on date, a date, oh my. Breathe, Bethany, breathe.
Jordan
He was in his rental following her trying to figure out how to explain things. Why did things end with Tai? Why did he come here? Why was he staying? What was he looking for? She deserved the truth but if she knew all those things she probably wouldn’t give him the time of day. The drive was short only about five minutes. She went up the steps and he was unsure if he should follow. She was in her apartment for about two minutes before she came back down the stairs still in her work clothes. Jordan had climbed out of the car and just stood there watching her.
“I’m sorry please...come in.” She stuttered. He reached for her hands and held her eyes. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“Bethany, have you ever had a boyfriend?” She shook her head. He stared in surprise she was a bombshell. “How is that possible beautiful?” He questioned still holding her gaze.
She swallowed hard. “I was supposed to marry Raiden.” He felt his eyes widened in shock.
“Tai’s Raiden?” She laughed at his choice of words.
“Yes, when we were sixteen it was decided. Look I don’t want to talk about this out here.” She nodded towards the apartment.
“Lead the way.” He smiled. She gave him a small, quick, nervous smile before leading him up to her apartment.
“Make yourself at home, I’ll be right back.” He nodded and she disappeared into the room.
His phone rang. He fished it from his pocket ‘Meredith Calling.’ He sighed before answering it.
“Jordan?” God why did he answer? With no logical explanation to that question he hung up. He didn’t need multiple guesses, Meredith calling was about him bringing Tai home, away from ‘a monster.’ As she put it, but Raiden was anything but from what he had seen thus far. He could feel her reenter the room. Something he hadn’t ever felt with Tai. It was a force pulling him to her, his eyes never left her as she just stood at the entrance to her living room. She was gorgeous and he made a mental note to later thank Tai for coming here of all places. Meredith would surely have something to say, but fuck her, she ruined one relationship for him, oddly enough with her own daughter, but she had no more power over him, he was done. He came here, Tai said no, it was over Tai was happy she deserved happiness. Jordan wanted happiness too, but he had a lot of work to do in order to prove he deserved it.
Bethany
He was staring at her. Not moving a muscle. Did she look that bad? “That bad?” She asked quietly.
“Hell no! You’re beautiful.” She smiled unsure still. She never considered herself a self-conscious person, but she had also never been in this type of situation where her attraction to someone was being honestly returned. Raiden loved her, but like a sister, a best friend, but not a lover or wife. She never had feelings for him either, but she also never let herself have feelings for anyone. She was always assuming one day she’d have to fulfill the role of wife to Raiden to keep the Lukas family at bay. Funny thing was Raiden, Kai, and her remained friends till he was about twenty. That was when his father started really brainwashing him. At twenty-one, they all had a choice. Choose as their parents had or go back dark night. K
ai did the same thing her and Raiden had, but she never understood why. For months Kai said he was going back to dark night, but when the time arrived he didn’t. “You okay, Bethany?” His gentle soothing voice breaking through her thoughts of the past and what was supposed to be. She hoped she was looking at her future she just needed to figure out how to get there.
“Fine, sorry. I’m new to this.” He smiled and held his hand out to her. She took a few steps and reached for him. When their hands connected he tugged her towards him. She landed flush against his solid chest. Her breathing began to pick up, her heart raced.
He leaned close and she couldn’t pull away, “We take our time,” he muttered so very close to her lips sending shivers down her whole body. She braced for a kiss and was terrified. He winked at her then kissed her cheek. “Baby steps, beautiful,” he whispered in her ear slowly pulling back.
“Not sure how we proceed, she whispered still wrapped in his arms.
“First, we get to know one another. I’m not in any rush.” She smiled.
“Somehow I don’t think that is a normal guy response.” She laughed and he followed. He had a deep laugh and she melted.
“It isn’t, but I’ve made mistakes in the past. Mistakes I vow to never repeat.” She nodded towards the couch and he followed her lead.
She swallowed hard. She wanted to ask him about Tai. ‘Too soon, Bethany.’ she chanted in her head. “What brings you to Aishan?” She thought it was a simple question.
“Tai’s mom got a phone call that freaked her out, she wanted me to drag Tai back to the states.” That surprised Bethany a little.
“Oh I see. What freaked her out?” She bit her lip. She was nervous about his response.
“The fact that Raiden is a vampire.” He said it like it was nothing.
“Yeah and I am...” He silenced her with a finger to her lips.
“They told me at the diner. It doesn’t bother me, Bethany. I want to get to know you.” She felt tears in her eyes, this handsome guy wanted to get to know her. Why her? She was unsure of everything, herself, him, what could happen, and the future Raiden and Tai were just starting out. There was still a possibility for things not working out.